Understanding Digital SAT Scores and Benchmarks
Learn how scores in the SAT Suite of Assessments are structured, what they mean, and how to interpret benchmarks to help assess your students’ college and career readiness.
Step by Step
Digital SAT Score Structure
The SAT Suite of Assessments provides detailed information about student learning by reporting different types of scoring metrics. Each assessment reports a total score and two section scores.
Digital SAT Suite Benchmarks
The SAT Suite of Assessments College and Career Readiness Benchmarks can be used together to help students and educators assess student progress toward college readiness from year to year. Benchmarks help:
Identify students who are thriving and require greater challenges.
Identify students who require additional academic support.
Inform instructional and curricular enhancements throughout an institution.
SAT College and Career Readiness Benchmarks
Students are considered college and career ready when their SAT section scores meet both the Math and Reading and Writing benchmarks. It’s important to note that college readiness is a continuum—students scoring below the SAT benchmarks can still be successful in college, especially with additional preparation and perseverance.
Students with an SAT Math section score that meets or exceeds the benchmark have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in entry-level credit-bearing college courses in algebra, statistics, precalculus, or calculus.
Students with an SAT Reading and Writing section score that meets or exceeds the benchmark have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in entry-level credit-bearing college courses in history, literature, social sciences, or writing classes.
Grade-Level Benchmarks
Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 see grade-level benchmarks on their score reports. Grade-level benchmarks indicate whether students are on track for college and career readiness. They’re based on expected student growth toward SAT benchmarks at each grade.
Benchmark Values
SAT College and Career Readiness Benchmarks
Reading and Writing: 480
Math: 530
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 Section Score Ranges 160–760 Point Scale
11th Grade Benchmarks
Reading and Writing: 460
Math: 510
10th Grade Benchmarks
Reading and Writing: 430
Math: 480
PSAT 8/9
PSAT 8/9 Section Score Ranges 120–720 Point Scale
9th Grade Benchmarks
Reading and Writing: 410
Math: 450
8th Grade Benchmarks
Reading and Writing: 390
Math: 430
When and Where to Get Scores
You can view scores for the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 and find access codes for students who need them by signing into the K–12 score reporting portal and running a Roster Report. View the score release schedule to find out when student scores will be available.
Note: Scores from paper and pencil versions of the SAT Suite may still appear on some student score reports, including (where applicable) SAT Essay scores. Some students may have scores from SAT Subject Tests taken prior to June 2021, when they were discontinued.
Vertical Score Scale
The SAT Suite uses a common score scale, providing consistent feedback across assessments to help educators and students monitor growth across grades and to identify areas in need of improvement. This level of feedback can help both students and educators engage in the best possible practice for future assessments: strong classroom work and instruction.
Middle schools and high schools can also use this information to evaluate their curriculum. Higher education institutions can use the new scores to get deep insight into student readiness.
Digital SAT Suite Vertical Scale
Total Score and Section Scores
Each of the assessments in the SAT Suite reports a total score that is the sum of two section scores: Reading and Writing and Math.
Ranges for Total Scores
SAT: 400–1600
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10: 320–1520
PSAT 8/9: 240–1440
Ranges for Section Scores (Reading and Writing, Math)
SAT: 200–800
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10: 160–760
PSAT 8/9: 120–720
Scoring and Section Details for the Digital SAT Exam:
